An Actor Protests Blacklisting
Actor Sam Jaffe (1891–1984) was subpoenaed to appear before HUAC after he had been listed in Red Channels. Although the subpoena later was discharged, Jaffe was not allowed to work in radio, television, or motion pictures for seven years. In a letter to Nate Spingold (1886–1958), Columbia Pictures executive vice president who was responsible for vetting suspected subversives, Jaffe vigorously condemned the blacklisting process. Previously, R. Lawrence Siegel, a prominent attorney for victims of the blacklist, pled Jaffe’s case in a letter to Edward Cheyfitz (1914–1959), the Motion Picture Association of America labor adviser and himself a former Communist. In another letter, Siegel discussed Jaffe’s situation and that of his blacklisted friend, Philip Loeb (1891–1955), with HUAC counsel, Frank S. Tavenner, Jr. (1895–1964). Loeb committed suicide in 1955, and those who knew him believed that blacklisting was a major factor.
Actor Sam Jaffe (1891–1984) was subpoenaed to appear before HUAC after he had been listed in <em>Red Channels</em>. Although the subpoena later was discharged, Jaffe was not allowed to work in radio, television, or motion pictures for seven years. In a letter to Nate Spingold (1886–1958), Columbia Pictures executive vice president who was responsible for vetting suspected subversives, Jaffe vigorously condemned the blacklisting process. Previously, R. Lawrence Siegel, a prominent attorney for victims of the blacklist, pled Jaffe’s case in a letter to Edward Cheyfitz (1914–1959), the Motion Picture Association of America labor adviser and himself a former Communist. In another letter, Siegel discussed Jaffe’s situation and that of his blacklisted friend, Philip Loeb (1891–1955), with HUAC counsel, Frank S. Tavenner, Jr. (1895–1964). Loeb committed suicide in 1955, and those who knew him believed that blacklisting was a major factor.